Full-rotary shuttle device for a sewing machine



112/1s1ux eE En w mm m o u m whW v mn m .m m m lomad w w m m .m P dumm y eva .D .m m. h e a m y m M g s [5 6] References Cited UN1TED STATES PATENTS 2,219,470 10/1940 Carlson.............1.......... 2,673,541 3/1954 Biesemeyer.... 3,012,530 12/1961 KettereretaL. 3,155,061 11/1964 Goebeleta1.1................

FOREIGN PATENTS 778,149 2/1968 Canada............1...........

Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest AttorneyMiehae1 S. Striker ABSTRACT: The present invention relates to an ment of a rotary shuttle of a sewin Noboru Kasuga, Tokyo, Japan [21] Appl. No. 781,934

Dec. 6, 1968 [45] Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Janome Sewing Machine Co. Ltd. Tokyo, Japan [32] Priority Dec. 7, 1967 Japan 42/102,377

United States Patent [72] Inventors Susumu Hanyu and [22] Filed [73] Assignee which is to eliminate or reduce the noise caus during operation of the machines between the driving member of the well asz-to prevent the lints of cloths and threads from into the shuttle mechanism of the machine m e S .w s a a G 4 8 m mmm W 25 E n s mm M 5 0 .H F I E m w W m D E n u L w m m m U F Y w m m R a MLn A m In TE6 mm 5 2m R b a L h .PWM U .m.w FMS UIF 4 HUN 5 H55 Patented Oct. 27, 1910 3,536,022

Sheet 2 Ora INVBJTOR 5 a s d rm 5040f!) Iva/302a 4111 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet,

a v U. Mm J I W V up a *7 hard 6 2 4 n m 1|. Av 7 ,I/ 2 J W 9 6 Y w B U ATTORNEY FULL-ROTARY SHUTTLE DEVICE FOR A SEWING MACHINE In sewing machines, a full rotary shuttle is conventionally used, in which, since the driving direction is not alternatively changed back and forth as in the oscillation-type shuttle, the noise being caused is much less than in the conventional oscillation-type shuttle. However in order to get a desirable thread drawing for the full rotary shuttle of the present invention, it is necessary to provide a driving member with two driving pieces which are made to alternately engage the respective coupling holes in the shuttle in order to drive the same, so that there may be a gap alternately formed between the driving pieces and the coupling holes at least at the moment of thread drawing. However, this system is liable to bring about an impact sound at the moment when the disengaged driving piece engages the respective coupling hole of the shuttle again. Of course, there must be a certain suitable space between the respective driving pieces and coupling holes to permit easy detachment and attachment of the shuttle and also in view of producing alternative gaps between the respective driving pieces and coupling holes during the rotation of shuttle. Such a space between the respective driving pieces and coupling holes causes a difference in rotation speed between the driving member and the shuttle and consequently a so called shuttlestriking sound when the disengaged driving piece engages again the respective coupling hole of the shuttle.

Moreover since the shuttle is formed so as to receive a bobbin for the lower thread, the engaging positions of the respective driving piece against the shuttle cannot be set in the vertical plane of the central peripheral rib of the shuttle. Consequently, when driving force is transmitted to the shuttle, the shuttle is always directed toward one side of the same due to the moment action alternatively caused by the engagement between the driving pieces and the respective coupling holes of the shuttle. Such an alternative moment action is an additional cause of noise. The noise of the shuttle as brought about by the above mentioned cause is further increased when the machine is driven at a high speed. Such noise will be not only disturbing to the operator but also a cause of abrasion in related constituent parts. Such abrasion will cause more noise and as a result cause a breakdown in the shuttle mechanism in a short time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The fundamental object of this invention is to improve the above mentioned disadvantages found in the conventional full rotary shuttle mechanism of sewing machine, and to remove the causes of such noise in the rotary shuttle mechanism by using an elastic material, thereby to eliminate unpleasant shuttle striking sounds as well as to reduce the abrasion and wear of the related constituent parts, and further to prolong the duration of its use.

Another object of this invention is to prevent the noise even when some abrasion should occur in the related mechanism. Generally speaking, in this kind of mechanism, there is little noise at the beginning of abrasion but when the parts are worn off to a certain extent, the occurring of sounds cannot be prevented. According to this invention, even if some abrasion should occur in the shuttle mechanism, the shuttle striking sounds are suitably prevented to obtain a suitable shuttle mechanism devoid of sound for a long time. Moreover when the elastic material preventing such sound is damaged, replacement of the elastic material will achieve the effective sound prevention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a full rotary shuttle mechanism which is devoid of dusts and lints entering into the same. The shuttle mechanism is generally mounted in the sewing machine in a condition in which lints and dusts and also oil are easily deposited in the shuttle mechanism. In such a shuttle mechanism to provide a hole in which to confine the above mentioned elastic material tends to uselessly invite the intrusion of such lints, dusts and oil into the shuttle mechanism. However in this invention the intrusion of such undesired elements is effectively prevented by enclosing the elastic material in a specifically closed hole provided in the shuttle mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a full rotary shuttle which is adjustable to the movements of a main driving shaft and a needle bar. As a general rule, in a sewing machine, the driving shaft, needle bar and shuttle are designed to move in timed relationship to sew a material. However, by errors in manufacturing and assembling, this is not always achieved. Such a phase difference between the movements of driving shaft, needle bar and shuttle eventually leads to the production of sounds and becomes a cause of wear and damage in the related members. According to the present invention, in case when such a phase difference should occur between the above mentioned members, their relative positions are easily adjusted to eliminate the cause of noise and abrasion wear.

Another object of this invention is to reduce sound produced in the course of power transmission to the shuttle mechanism. Especially in case of driving the vertical type shuttle facing the operator, it is indispensable to change the power transmission direction with the relative engagement of gear mechanism. The engaging structure of the gear mechanism is also liable to produce sounds. According to this invention, one of these gears is made of a synthetic resin, thereby to reduce the production of sound. Moreover, the gear of synthetic resin is integrally fixed to the other auxilliary member made of steel and so forth. Thus a member which should originally consist of two members or more can be used. Now it is clear that the gear of synthetic resin thus conventionally supported by the auxiliary member is capable of reducing the production of sounds at the time of power transmission to the shuttle mechanism.

Many other features and advantages of this invention will be clearly understood from the following description of the invention in reference to the attached drawings:

FIG. I: Front elevational view of the full rotary shuttle mechanism of this invention and a part of the machine bed of the sewing machine illustrated partly in section.

FIG. 2: Bottom side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrated partly in section.

FIG. 3: Exploded perspective view of the shuttle mechanis according to this invention.

FIG. 4: Rear side view of the rotary shuttle and driving member of this invention.

' FIG. 5: Vertical sectional view of the shuttle mechanism of FIG. 6 according to this invention, taken along line V -V.

FIG. 6: Plan view of the shuttle mechanism according to this invention illustrated partly in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As best shown in FIG. 3 the device of this invention specifically comprises of a shuttle supporter I, driver 2, driving member 3, shuttle holder 4, rotary shuttle 5 and retainer cap 6.'The shuttle supporter l is fixed to the bottom of machine bed 10 as shown in FIG. I and FIG. 2, in which the mounting seat 18 formed on one side part of the shuttle supporter l is fixedly mounted on the base seat 10a provided on the bottom side of the machine bed 10 by screws 17 screwed into the respective threaded holes 19 provided in the mounting seat (18) and also screwed into the base seat 100. According to the present invention, each of the threaded holes 19 is slightly elongated, and a threaded hole 16a is formed at the rear side of mounting seat 18, and into which hole 16a is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, screwed a cylindrical rod 16, the free end of which is located at the rear side frame 10b of the machine bed 10. The cylindrical rod I6 issecured at on optional position in the machine bed frame by means of stopper screw 100. Therefore, by rotatingly operating the cylindrical rod 16 after the screws 17 and the stopper screw 10: are slightly loosened, the position of the shuttle device can be suitably adjusted with respect to the lower needle position of the sewing machine.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the shuttle supporter l is formed with a concave recess 15 or the side thereof where the mounting seat 18 is formed so that a shuttle driving bevel gear 21 of the driver 2 is located in the recess 15. The concave recess 15 is provided with a rearwardly extending hollow cylinder 14 and a cutout 13 formed in a wall thereof. Through the cutout 13 of the concave recess 15 the bevel gear 21 meshes with another bevel gear 103 to be driven thereby, as shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, the shuttle supporter 1 has ears 11 on both sides thereof and each of the ears 1 1 is formed with a threaded hole 12 by which the shuttle holder 4 is to be fixedly mounted on the shuttle supporter 1 as will be described later, and it is also noted that an annular groove is provided in the shuttle supporter l concentrically with the concave recess 15.

The driver 2 is atits rear side provided with the aforementioned bevel gear 21 and a shaft 26 rearwardly extending from the central part of the bevel gear 21.

The shaft 26 is inserted into a hollow metal bushing 9 fitted in the cylinder 14, so that the driver2 is rotatably supported in the opening of the shuttle supporter l in somewhat eccentric relation with respect to the rotation center of the rotary shuttle which is to be described later. In this case a rearwardly projecting peripheral wall 20 of the driver 2 engages with the aforementioned annular groove In of the shuttle supporter 1, whereby intrusion of lints and dust is prevented. Moreover, the driver 2 is equipped at the front center thereof with threaded hole 22 for mounting the driving member 3 thereon, and around the threaded hole 22 there is provided an annular recess 25. On a certain part of the outer circumference of the driver 2 there is formed a projection 24 which is provided on one side thereof a bore 23 to receive one end part of a coil spring 29. The driving member (3) is provided with a central opening 31 and oppositely arranged driving pieces 37,37a on the outer circumference thereof which are different from each other in shape, and further provided with an annular recess 32 around the central opening 31. Moreover as shown in FIG. 4 the driving member 3 is provided on the rear side thereof with a circumferential groove 34 which is adapted to receive the aforementioned projection 24 of the driver 2 and in a certain position in the groove 34 there is arranged a recess which is at one side thereof a recession 33 so that the projection 24 is received in the recess and thecoil spring 29 is maintained between the recession 33 and the bore 23 of the projection 24 of the driver 2 when the driving member 3 is mounted on the driver 2 as particularly shown in FIG. 6. A collar around the central opening 31 of the driving member 3 is adapted to be received in the annular recess 25 of the driver 2 and the face of prepheral upstanding wall 30 of the driving member 3 is adapted to engage an annular step 16 of the shuttle supporter 1 as shown in FIG. 2, and a washer 36 is fitted into the front annular recess 32 of the driving member 3, and then a screw 38 is screwed into the threaded hole of the driver 2. Thus the driver 2 and the driving member 3 is connected each other. In this case it is important in this invention that the driving member 3 is not fixedly connected to the driver 2, but that it is connected to the driver 2 in a somewhat loose condition in the direction of rotation of the same for a purpose described hereinafter.

As mentioned above, the shuttle holder 4 is secured to the shuttle supporter 1 by means of screws 45,45 which are respectively screwed into the threaded holes 12,12 of the shuttle supporter 1. The shuttle holder 4 is almost the same as a conventional one, and is also formed at its front side with a notch 44 which serves to correctly position the shuttle cap 6 with respect to the shuttle holder 4 by receiving a pin (not shown) fixed on the cap 6 and at the same time serves to eliminate the lints and dusts therefrom. On both sides of the front side of the shuttle holder 4 there are arranged cap retainers 42,42 which are turnably mounted there by means of screws 43,43 to retain the cap 6 fitted into the shuttle holder 4 for preventing the shuttle 5 from getting off the shuttle holder 4. When the shuttle holder is secured to the shuttle supporter 1, an annular projecting portion 46 formed on the rear side of the same is adapted to engage the aforementioned step 1b of the shuttle supporter 1 as shown in FIG. 2. The rotary shuttle 5 which is placed inside the shuttle. holder 4 is, as well known, provided with a bobbin shaft 52 in the center of the front side thereof. As well shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the shuttle 5 is formed with a central peripheral rib 51, an annular front wall 55 which is angular with respect to the vertical plane of the rib 51 and a rear side wall 58 which, is composed of a flat portion parallel to the vertical planelof the rib 51 and a circumferential portion being angular with respect to the same plane. The central peripheral rib 51 of the shuttle 5 is partly cut away to form a hook 53 thereof. Between the central rib 51 and the annular front wall 55 there is provided an elongated angular slot 56 into which the needle of the machine is adapted to drop. For the rear side wall 58 of the shuttle 5 there are oppositely formed coupling holes 57,570 which are respectively extending in the fiat and angular portions of the wall 58 and are respectively adapted to receive the driving pieces 37,37a of the driving member 3.

The shuttle 5 fitted in the race 41 of the shuttle holder 4 is detachably held therein by the shuttle cap 6 which is fitted into a forward annular recess 47 around the race 41 and retained there by the retainers 42,42 which are adapted to engage the respective lugs 61,61 provided in both sides of the front face of the cap 6 by a snap action. By disengaging the retainer 42,42 from the lugs 61,61, the cap 6 is detached from the shuttle holder 4. and accordingly the shuttle 5 is also detached from the same. Now, in reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the gear 21 and the gear shaft 25 of the driver 2 are made from different materials; namely the gear 21 may be made of synthetic resin and the shaft 25 is made of steel. On the forward end part of the gear shaft 26 are fixedly provided two metal members 27,28. The metal member 27 provides a shoulder for the forward end of the metal bushing 9 when the gear shaft 26 of the driver 2 is inserted into the bushing 9, and the gear shaft 26 and the bushing 9 are fixedly connected by a set screw 8. By adjusting the set screw 8 the position of the gear shaft 26 is relatively changed with respect to the bushing 9. Another member 28 may be made from synthetic resin, and is fitted into the driver 2. A shuttle driving shaft 101 is arranged under the machine bed 10 and at the end thereof is provided a driving gear 103 which is adapted to mesh with the gear 21 of the driver 2 to drive the shuttle driver 2 as well known by means of the driving mechanism of the sewing machine.

The driver 2 has an angular elongated projection 24'adjaccnt to the aforementioned projection 24. The elongated projection 24'extends along the outer circumference of the driver 2 and is adapted to reinforce the projection 24. The projection 24is also adapted to be placed in the aforementioned recess 34 of the driving member 3 between the spring receiving recession 33 and a step 34which is formed opposite to the recession 33. Furthermore, the driving member 3 is provided at the front face thereof with an indication mark 39, see FIG. 6, in order to indicate the position of the shuttle hook 53 with respect to the driving pieces 37,37a of the driver 2, as shown in FIG. 6.

When the sewing machine is driven with such a combination of the constituent members as above mentioned, the driving member 3 rotates in the direction as indicated by an arrow mark as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Since the driver 2 is arranged in an eccentric rotation with respect to the shuttle 5 as men tioned hereinbefore, the rotation center of the driving member 3 is radially shifted to the rotation center of the shut tle 5 in accordance with the eccentricity as the driver 2 IS rotated. Accordingly the engaging relation between the driving pieces 37,37a of the driving member 3 and the respective coupling holes 57,57a of the shuttle is alternatively changed over at each rotation of thereof. Thus either of these driving pieces 37,37a is normally in contact with the edge of the respective coupling hole 57 or 57a,so that the shuttle 5 successive revolutions. At the time of driving engagement between either of the driving pieces 37,37a and the edge of the respective coupling hole, the aforementioned coil spring 29, placed between the driver 2 and the driving member 3 as described hereinbefore, acts as a buffer action, thereby to prevent the aforementioned so called shuttle-striking sounds caused by the driving pieces 37,37a even when the shuttle is driven at a high speed, since as aforementioned the driving member 3 is connected to the driver 2 in somewhat loose manner in the direction of movement of the same. Moreover the advantage of the coil spring 29 is that even if there is a phase difference or error in the movement relation between the driving pieces and the respective coupling holes, such a difference or error is appropriately compensated, and soundless shuttle driving is realized. In this shuttle device, the engaging positions of the driving pieces 37,37a and the respective coupling holes 57,570 are not in the vertical plane of the central peripheral rib 51 of the shuttle which is fitted in the race 41 of the shuttle holder 4 to be rotated therein, and the shuttle is usually directed to one side thereof at the time of engagement between the driving piece and the respective coupling hole during the rotation of the same due to the movement at the time of that engagement. This may be an additional cause to be bring a noise in the shuttle device. Now such a disadvantage is completely eliminated by the function of the coil spring 29. Moreover since the coil spring 29 is fitted between the bore 23 of the projection 24 of the driver 2 and the recession 33 of the driving member as best shown in FIG. 6, there is little chance for the lints, dusts and oil to intrude and rest on the spring 29 during operation of the sewing machine. Accordingly, the coil spring 29 can work long without impairment of its function.

According to the above mentioned structure of this invention, as mentioned hereinbefore gear shaft 26 and bevel gear 21 are made of different materials (the former is made of steel, iron, etc. and the latter, of synthetic resin) and also the driver 2 may be made of synthetic resin. Then they are assembled into a single integrated unit. In this manner any noise is appropriately eliminated or reduced which might otherwise be caused by meshing engagement between the bevel gear 21 of the driver and another bevel gear 103 of the shuttle driving shaft 101.

Further according to the structure of this invention, by slightly loosening each of the aforementioned screws 17 and then adjusting the cylindrical rod 16 under the machine bed as shown in FIG. 2, the position of the shuttle device is suitably adjusted relative to the lower needle position of the sewing machine, and at the same time the meshing engagement between the gear 2] and the gear 103 is also suitably adjusted. Thus the shuttle device of this invention can take a most appropriate position relative to the associated device of the sewing machine. Therefore, the structure of this invention will eliminate additional causes of unnecessary noise and sound of the sewing machine.

We claim:

1. A full rotary shuttle device for a sewing machine. having a machine bed and a driving mechanism, comprising a shuttle supporter secured to said machine bed, a driver rotatably mounted in said shuttle supporter and driven by said driving mechanism, a driving member having a plurality of driving pieces and oppositely connected to said driver, a shuttle holder fixedly mounted on said shuttle supporter, a shuttle rotatably mounted in said shuttle holder and rotated by said driving member, and spring means placed between said driver and said driving member, so that when said driver is driven by said driving mechanism, said spring means will transmit said driving motion to said driving member, whereby said driving pieces alternatively engage said shuttle and successively rotates the same.

2. A full rotary shuttle device for a sewing machine, according to claim 1, comprising a base seat formed on said machine bed, and a mounting seat formed on said shuttle supporter and having a threaded bore, so that said mounting seat is fixedly mounted on said base seat by means of a plurality of screws, thereby to secure said shuttle supporter to said machine bed; and comprising a cylindrical threaded rod arranged in said machine bed and threaded into said threaded bore, whereby by manipulating said cylindrical threaded rod after said screws are loosened, the position of said shuttle supporter is adjusted relative to said machine bed.

3. A full rotary shuttle device for a sewing machine according to claim 2, comprising a shuttle driving shaft arranged in said machine bed and having a bevel gear, a gear shaft connected to said driver and intersecting said shuttle driving shaft, said gear shaft being arranged in said shuttle supporter to rotatably locate said driver in the same, and a bevel gear provided on said driver and meshed by said first gear so that said driver is driven by said shuttle driving shaft, whereby said relative meshing relation between said first and second bevel gears is adjusted by said adjustment of the position of said shuttle supporter relative to said machine bed.

4. A full rotary shuttle device for a sewing machine according to claim 3, wherein said second bevel gear is made of synthetic resin and wherein said second gear, said driver and said gear shaft are formed in a single unit.

5. A full rotary shuttle device for a sewing machine, accord ing to claim 1, wherein said driver has a projection formed thereon; and wherein said driving member has a recess adapted to receive said projection and having a recession at one side thereof, so that said spring means can be maintained between said projection and said recession.

6. A full rotary shuttle device for a sewing machine, according to claim 1, comprising a cylinder formed integral with said shuttle supporter, a hollow metal bushing adapted to be fitted into said cylinder, a gear shaft formed integral with said driver and, fitted into said hollow metal bushing, and a set screw adapted to be threaded into one end of said gear shaft, whereby said driver is rotatably supported in said shuttle supporter.

7. A full rotary shuttle device for a sewing machine, accord ing to claim 1, comprising a threaded bore formed at the center of said driver, a washer member adapted to be fitted to center of said driving member, and a screw adapted to be threaded into said threaded bore, whereby said driver and said driving member are connected to each other by said screw with said washer member being located between said driving member and said screw.

8. A full rotary shuttle device for a sewing machine, according to claim 1, comprising a concave recess formed on said shuttle supporter for receiving a bevel gear of said driver, an annular groove formed around said concave recess, and an annular projecting wall formed on said driver for being fitted into said annular groove, whereby lints, dusts and oil are prevented from intruding into said shuttle device when said annular projecting wall is fitted into said annular groove to as semble said shuttle and said driver. 

